Father-in-Law, Say Something!

Before Dai Mubai had even landed, Dai Mobai, his black hair flying and his pupils blood-red, had already crossed several meters and appeared before him.

"You can't even put strength into hitting someone. What else can you do?"

Dai Mobai curled his fingers into claws and tore toward Dai Mubai's chest with a howling wind.

"White Tiger Protection Barrier!"

Dai Mubai's deep-blue pupils reflected Dai Mobai's mocking sneer as he frantically unleashed his first soul skill.

Soul Power gathered, instantly forming a barrier that enveloped him like an eggshell.

This was Dai Mubai's only defensive soul skill. With the strength of a level thirty-two Soul Elder, it was more than enough to easily block attacks from opponents of the same level.

Dai Mobai's second Martial Soul doesn't even have a soul ring, and I injured his right arm. There's no way he can break through my...

Crack—bang!

The sound of the barrier shattering cut off Dai Mubai's thoughts.

Amid the flying fragments of Soul Power, Dai Mobai's arms, wrapped in blood-colored flames, did not slow in the slightest as they viciously plunged into Dai Mubai's chest.

"Aah!!!"

Dai Mubai let out a hoarse roar, bulging veins spreading across his twisted face.

Dai Mobai turned a deaf ear to him. With a forceful motion of his arm, he actually lifted Dai Mubai straight into the air.

Driven by inertia, the arm Dai Mobai had thrust into Dai Mubai's chest pierced even deeper, nearly passing through his body.

Strangely, not a single drop of blood flowed from Dai Mubai's wound.

Only strands of crimson blood energy rose from it and seeped into Dai Mobai's body.

"Tell me, do you think you'll die?"

Dai Mobai looked up at Dai Mubai, a savage glint flickering in his blood-red eyes.

At that moment, Dai Mubai felt as though he had fallen into an ice pit.

He realized that Dai Mobai truly would kill him.

"Brother! I was out of my mind. Please forgive me, Brother!"

His overwhelming desire to survive cleared Dai Mubai's head. Enduring the agonizing pain, he begged for mercy.

At the same time, the Star Luo Emperor's deep voice echoed through the hall.

"Spare his life, Mobai."

Their voices rang out at the same time, making it impossible to tell who had spoken first.

But in that instant, Dai Mubai's expression froze.

Because the nature of the matter had changed.

If the Star Luo Emperor had spoken first to settle this affair, then even if he had been beaten until he could not fight back, he could still have claimed he would rather die than yield and preserved some dignity.

But Dai Mobai's gaze had terrified him out of his wits. In his panic, he had begged for mercy before the assembled officials and the Star Luo Emperor.

And begging for mercy was not even the worst part. The worst part was that his plea and the Star Luo Emperor's pardon had been spoken at the exact same time.

In other words, not only had he shown cowardice before the officials, he had also indirectly slapped the Star Luo Emperor in the face.

Just one second! One second!

Dai Mubai roared inwardly, the humiliation briefly overwhelming even the searing pain in his chest.

The Star Luo Emperor's expression remained as still as an ancient well, seemingly unaffected by Dai Mubai.

Yet Duke Spirit Cat Zhu Song, standing in the front row of the hall, heard the Star Luo Emperor's breathing grow slightly heavier.

Clearly, the Star Luo Emperor's mood was not as calm as he appeared.

Compared to the Second Prince, the Third Prince is still too immature. If the Second Prince truly wanted to take his life, why would he avoid the vital points? He really cannot see the forest for the trees. With that plea for mercy, he has lost far more than just his engagement to Zhu Qing...

Zhu Song shook his head and let out a soft sigh.

"Since Father has spoken, I'll spare his life."

With a swing of his arm, Dai Mobai flung Dai Mubai away as though he were garbage.

His body scraped across the tiled floor of the hall, producing an ear-piercing screech.

Blood gushed from his chest, streaking the tiles for seven or eight meters.

"Cough, cough, cough—"

Dai Mubai coughed violently, and the force sent two more spurts of blood spraying from his chest.

In such a state, he could no longer maintain Martial Soul Possession and reverted to his original appearance.

His once-fitting formal robes had become tattered. The neat golden hair on his head was soaked by the sweat lingering on his face and plastered against his pale features, leaving him utterly bedraggled.

With every breath, the blood-colored flames around Dai Mobai's body receded like the tide.

His eyes returned to their mismatched gold and red, while his hair changed from black back to gold.

In contrast to Dai Mubai, not only was Dai Mobai's formal robe unstained by even a trace of blood, it did not even bear a single wrinkle.

Even the right arm Dai Mubai had cut earlier had returned to normal, without the slightest scar.

If not for the claw marks still on his sleeve, no one would have been able to tell that his right arm had been injured by Dai Mubai.

At this moment, Dai Mubai lay prone while Dai Mobai stood tall—one looking up, the other looking down.

Faced with such a contrast, Dai Mubai's heart filled with unwillingness.

He was unwilling to watch his beautiful fiancée leave him like this, unwilling to accept that, despite being twins, Dai Mobai surpassed him in every way, and even more unwilling to see the throne slip away from him.

So he turned his gaze toward Duke Spirit Cat Zhu Song, who stood in the front row.

Given Zhu Song's position in the Star Luo Empire, if he spoke up, perhaps there might still be a turning point.

"Duke Spirit Cat! Please uphold justice for this prince!"

He struggled to rise. He had intended to bow to Zhu Song, but his body was too weak, and he fell straight to his knees.

"Zhu Yun and Zhu Qing are sisters. Is Duke Spirit Cat really going to stand by and watch two daughters serve one husband?"

Dai Mubai ground his teeth and forced out the words through the gaps between them.

Without changing expression, Zhu Song shifted slightly aside, avoiding Dai Mubai's kneel.

At the same time, as though he had not heard Dai Mubai's words at all, he remained silent.

Seeing that Zhu Song was ignoring him, Dai Mubai abruptly raised his head and shouted through gritted teeth.

"Father-in-law, say something!"

As Dai Mubai's voice fell, the Star Luo Emperor's breathing grew heavier once more. A trace of coldness appeared in his usually still eyes; clearly, his emotions had reached their limit.

"Third Prince, you honor this humble subject too greatly. I cannot accept being called your father-in-law."

Zhu Song finally spoke, but his words were not what Dai Mubai wanted to hear.

"As for the engagement, only His Majesty may decide."

Zhu Song placed his right hand over his chest and bowed to the Star Luo Emperor.

As a subject, Zhu Song could not show any personal bias.

But as a father, Zhu Song still had some selfish wishes of his own.

Rather than let his daughters slaughter each other over the struggle for the throne, he would rather have both daughters serve one husband.

Seeing Zhu Song distance himself from the matter, more blood vessels appeared in Dai Mubai's eyes.

He turned his gaze toward Dai Mobai again, and his emotions erupted at that moment.

"Dai Mobai! You already have Zhu Zhuyun, so why are you still trying to take Zhu Zhuqing?! Why won't you leave me even a path to survive?!"

He roared, spittle flying.

"The struggle for the heir has always been this way. Besides, I have two Martial Souls. Is it wrong for me to need two Hell Spirit Cats?"

Dai Mobai gave Dai Mubai a glance, his tone calm.

"You—"

"Enough. Take Dai Mubai away for treatment."

The Star Luo Emperor's voice, wrapped in Soul Power, echoed through the hall. His pressure swept outward, making the air as heavy as lead and causing the temperature to plummet.

Two guards rushed in from outside the hall, seized Dai Mubai's arms from either side, and dragged him toward the doors.

As he was dragged away like a dead dog, Dai Mubai stared at Dai Mobai's upright back, a trace of madness appearing in his eyes.

Dai Mobai, just you wait. This matter... isn't over yet!